How well do we prevent disease?

Immunisation

Our PHN works with general practice to maintain high immunisation rates for their patients and to help reduce vaccine preventable disease. General Practitioners are key in improving Australia’s childhood immunisation levels as they are the main point of contact with children under the age of seven. General practices can also consider the special vaccination needs of their vulnerable populations such as those over the age of 65 years and those with chronic medical conditions.

Rates of childhood immunisation across our region are better than the national rates, as are the proportions of teenage girls and boys immunised against HPV.

Screening

Australia has three national cancer screening programs all of which aim to protect health through early detection.

• National Cervical Screening Program - This program recommends that all women aged 25 to 74 years have a five yearly Cervical Screening Test. Cervical screening helps save lives by preventing cervical cancer. For more information visit the Cervical Screening NSW website at www.csp.nsw.gov.au
• National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) - This program aims to reduce illness and death from bowel cancer by early detection. A free screening test is mailed to people aged 50 to 74 years to complete in the privacy of their own home. For more information visit the Bowel Cancer Australia website at www.bowelcanceraustralia.org
• BreastScreen Australia - BreastScreen Australia aims to reduce illness and death from breast cancer by offering regular screening to detect breast cancer using mammography. Women aged between 50 and 74 years are invited for a free mammogram every two years. For more information visit the BreastScreen NSW website at www.breastscreen.nsw.gov.au

In order to achieve the most benefit to our population from these programs, high participation rates are needed. As shown in the following infographic, participation rates in our region for these programs are slightly higher than NSW rates.